new school year, new job and new kids!

Hello art enthusiasts!

It has been a long time since I have updated on here! I recently got a new job working with Kindergarteners at a school in a nearby district. I am really enjoying the new adventures that come with working with kinders! I now know this is the age I would like to teach in the future. Anyways, I am not doing art projects everyday with the kids but I will be doing sporadically throughout the year. I will post any theme ideas, projects, games and art projects we are doing with them!

First, I got this idea from a fellow teacher at my school. We made maple leaves and wrote all of our students names on the stems. The students decorated them using dot pens (yellow, red and orange colors.) You can also include glitter, stickers and foam shapes as well. If you have a camera handy, you can take pictures of the students to add to thier leaves! Then, the teacher can make a tree and add all of the students' leaves.

Second, I found a great new kids book, "Papa please get the moon for me"by Eric Carle. I love Eric Carle books. They are great for book studies and art projects for kids in K and 1st grades! Later this month, we are going to do "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book read and art project! "Papa, please get the moon for me" is about a girl who is asking for her father to go up to sky and get the moon. The book follows the phases of the moon. The book is very interactive for children including folding out, pops out and colorful pictures! ( Picture above!)

Third, if anyone has any games, outside sports, songs, stretches, dances or projects for Kinders please let me know! I need outside games and sports appropriate for students ages 5-6 years old!

Link to leaves: http://0.tqn.com/d/gonewengland/1/0/5/C/leaf5.gif

Spotlight artists 1

Today, I am going to post featured art by the students at my school. All the names have been cover to protect myself and my students. The students always put so much creative and careful thinking into their pictures. I want to post this up to show how much I learn from them everyday!
A first grader drew this picture of a heart and peaceful scene in the background. The student wrote she loves our afterschool program.

A first grade girl made this picture of me as a superhero. I inquired what was my superhero powers and she replied " Flower power." I really like my pink mask!

A second grade girl drew this for me. She drew me and her on the right waving. She drew a hand next to us with red nail polish. I like the big hand next to us...perhaps it a symbol for God?

Another Second Grader Girl drew this for me. She drew a robot named TQ2 from their Spanish books at school. I remember we had the same Spanish books when I was in elementary school. I like the robot and the rainbow in the picture...very serene.

I hope to have more art for another Spotlight Artists edition! Happy Drawing!

Update on March and April is finally here!!

Hello art friends!
I am back and finally updating my blog! I think my last entry is from February so I have lots to catch up on! Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of all of the art projects but I will just write about them!

**Note: It has been a few months since I have done these art projects. I will continue to update this blog as I remember all of our art and crafts from these past months! Enjoy!***

March
Spring
Cherry Blossom- Paint, sponge, brushes-The students will paint a brown trunk and branches of the tree. Then, they can use the sponges to create pink and white blossoms on the tree
Flowers-Coffee filters or napkins, watercolors and pipe cleaners. The students will paint the coffee filters or napkins using different color water colors. They should use at least two filters or napkins in order to have a larger flower. Then, the students can attach pipe cleaners for stems!
Saint Patricks Day
Shamrocks-Paper, Glitter, Scissors
Leprechaun hats-Paper plates, paper, paint- The students will paint the paper plate black for the bottom of part of the hat. Next, they will decorate the hat using the paper. First, cut out a buckle for the hat and belt and glue it on the paper. Then, add a shamrock for good luck! Next, the teacher should cut a hole in the middle of the hat. Roll up the paper and put it inside the hole. Let, the paper unroll until it fills the entire hole in the plate. Next, the student with the teacher's help, will turn the hat upside down and cut vertical slits in the bottom of the paper. Next, the teacher will tape down the silts while the student is holding the hat.
Note: I found with smaller plates it was easier to stay on the kid's heads. Also, you can attack string to keep hats on!
Leprechauns-paper, paint and glitter. The teacher can draw a leprechaun on paper. I drew a girl and boy leprechaun. The students can decorate them with markers or paint and glitter. Also, you can use felt or fabric to make clothes etc!
Pots of Gold-paper and glitter. The students can cut out gold and a pot. Then add gold glitter to the yellow paper to make it sparkle!
Shamrocks 2- green cellophane paper. The students can trace different size shamrocks on the cellophane paper. Next, they will cut them out! We hung these in our room and it looked great!


April

Spring
Butterflies/Bees- corks, paint, watercolors,napkins. Have the students watercolor at least three colors on the napkins and put it aside. Next, the student should color the cork for the body. (We did black for the butterflies and yellow and black for the bees.) Next, the teacher can help attach the wings and body. You can also add a string and hang them up! Also, you can use pipe cleaners for atennas!
Bees 2- toliet paper rolls, paper, pipe cleaners. The teacher can help cover the toliet paper rolls with yellow paper. Next, add black stripes and wings! Also, you can add googly eyes and atennas too! This craft is fun to hang in your classroom!


Easter
Eggs-Tempra paint. The students can trace egg shapes and then paint them with different colors! I made pastel colors which the students loved! (You can make pastel colors by adding white paint to any color tempra paint.)
Bunnies-paint and cotton balls. The students can trace or draw their own bunny. The students can paint the bunnys white or gray color. They use part of cotton ball for the ears and another for the tail. Many of the students want to make their whole bunnies covered in cotton balls!
note: I gave the students two choices of rabbits: one sitting or standing up. They enjoyed having different choices of rabbits!
Easter baskets- paper. The teacher will cut out easter baskets out of brown paper. Next, you will cut slits vertically and horizontally in brown paper. Also, you will cut out 1 inch strips of light brown paper. The students will weave the strips of paper in the slits in the basket. Continue until all the basket is done and cut off loose ends. Next, the students can cut eggs out of paper and put them in the basket. Finally, decorate it!
Easter Rabbits-paper, paint, glue. The teacher can make outline of a rabbit. Next, the students make clothes out of the paper or paint them on! The students really enjoyed making thier own peter rabbits!

The last week of April was M.A.R.E at my school which is ocean enrichment week. Thus, we focused on ocean art and crafts for this week! It was very fun to turn the room into a underwater scene!

Jellyfishes-paper plates, streamers, paint. First, the teacher will cut the plates in half for the top of the jellyfish. Next, the students will paint the plates various colors and put aside. Finally, the students ( with the teacher's help) will staple the streamers to the bottom of the plate. The students wanted to do these all week. We hung up the jellyfishes from the ceiling!
Sponge painting-sponges, paint, paper. The teacher will cut out the sponges into various size fishes, jellyfishes, turtles. I had the students paint on the sponges to create less mess. Then they can stamp on their paper! This is super fun!
Crabs-paper plates, red paint, red paper, googly eyes. The students will paint the plate red and put it aside to dry. Next, they will cut claws and legs out of red paper and glue them on the plate! If you want you can add googly or paper eyes. This crab is ready to go!
Shiny Fishes. tin foil, paint, cotton swabs. The teacher will cut out tin foil in squares. First, the students will glue the tin foil to the paper. ( Tip: Put the glue on the paper not on the tin foil.) Then the students can paint an ocean scence including fishes, jellyfishes, turtles etc. Fianlly, the students can use the cotton swabs to make designs in the paint! ( This project can go with the book The Rainbow Fish!)
Mural- The students can make a mural of all the sea animals they are learning about in class.
Sea stars- color foam and paper. The students can trace or draw sea stars and then cut them out. The students can add different color foam dots to make a colorful design!

Feb update!

Hello art goers!
Sorry it has taken so long to update! I have been busy with subbing, getting sick and of course teaching art so I have been negligent in updating my blog! I finally posting my art and crafts projects from Feb! Now I am gearing up for Saint Patrick's Day and Spring! If you have any ideas for Saint Patty's Day or Spring, please leave a comment below! Thanks! Peace!

Chinese New Year:
Tiger paintings ( orange, black, yellow tempra paint and paper) We painted tigers since it was the Year of the Tiger!
Tiger masks: ( tempra paint and paper plates) The students painted a tiger face on the plates using the tempra paint. The students will need adult help with the next part! I cut holes for eyes and on the sides for string!
Chinese Lanterns ( red paper and gold paint) Before, the teacher should fold the red paper in half and draw the lines using a ruler. Draw a line across the top where the fold is. Then measure lines vertically across the paper about an 1 in apart! The students should cut the vertical lines stopping when the reach the top line. Then, they will open it and decorate the lantern w/ the gold paint! Then wrap the edges together and staple it so it stays together! Last, you can add a handle!
Dragon 1 ( paper, paint and brads) The students color or paint the dragon! Then, the strudents will cut out the dragon and the legs. The teacher will punch holes for legs using a hole puncher and attach the legs! Now you have a dragon for the parade!
Dragon 2 ( red paper, dragon face and paint)- The students will paint the face of the dragon. Then cut strips of red paper and staple them. Make rings that interwined with each other for the dragon's body! Then, make smaller rings for the tail part. Also, you can add fore and back legs! Last, fold a paper over accordian style to attach the dragon's head to the body! Enjoy!

Valentine's Day
Bumblebees- ( tolietpaper roll, yellow and black paper, black pipe cleaners ) First, the students will cover the toliet paper roll in yellow paper. Then cut out black strips of paper and glue them on evenly on your bee! Then you add eyes and smily face! If you want you use add the black pipe cleaners for antennas! Ask someone to beee yours!
Heart mobiles-( paper, glue, ribbon) The students will trace and cut out three different size hearts. Next, let the students decorate and add valentine messages on them! Then use a hole puncher to punch a hole at the top and bottoms of the hearts. Connect the hearts using the string and hang them up!
Heart wreaths- (paper, decorations, glue, ribbon) The students will cut out different size hearts and decorate them. Next, have the students glue the hearts in a heart shape! Perfect gift for family and friends!
Valentine Cards-( paper, doilies, stickers, ribbon) The students can use the decorations and make their own valentine's day card!

Igloo and Penguin pictures!

Hello! I am finally posting up pictures from our January art and crafts projects including our real
life size igloo! My coworkers made the igloo out of milk cartons and it can fit two children comfortably inside! It took a week and a half to construct the igloo with help from everyone including the kiddies!We made penguins and seals puppets at the art table to cover the top of the igloo!
Next, we are making Chinese New Years and Valentine's Day art projects! Enjoy!


The igloo from the side. The students covered the igloo with penguins, seals and eskimos pictures!
The igloo from the front. My coworker made a door that the students could open to get inside! The students can climb in and sit in the round area with friends!

I was trying to fit in the whole igloo in the picture! Our Penguin Art Bulletin board! The students painted penguins using different colored tempra paint!

A close up on a few of the student's penguin paintings! They even added top hats and scarfs! Note: I made the Penguin Art sign at the top of the bulletin board!

My bulletin board with more penguin art and crafts. On the top row, the students made baby penguins and seals using paint and cotton balls. On the bottom, the students painted penguins!

One of my First graders made this for me! She wrote "Art Table" and a drew a picture of me in the corner!

January Update: Penguins galore!

Hello! Sorry it has taken me a while to update! January has been flying by so fast and we have been busy with projects! We have done many penguin art and crafts projects for our winter theme this month! My coworkers made a life size igloo out of milk cartons and hot glue gun! ( Pictures are coming soon!) So we are making penguins to go with the igloo for open house this weekend! Here are the art and crafts projects we have done so far!

Penguins- black, white, yellow, orange and blue tempra paint. We painted penguins on paper to put around our room! It's fun and the kids can learn facts about them!
Oil pastel and watercolors pictures- First, the students can draw on the paper with the oil pastels. Then, they can paint over them with the watercolors. Note: Another project you can do is cover the whole paper with different color pastels. Next, the students paint over the pastels with black tempra paint. Last, have the students scratch a picture using the end of the paintbrush!
Potato print making- potatoes and tempra paint. You cut the potatos in half and then cut out a shape. The students can dip the potatoes into the paint and make a picture! Note: Older students could cut out their own shapes in the potatoes.
Dough- I found a recipe to make uncooked dough. I will post it up later! Then you can use different food coloring to dye the dough! Note: I learned that the dye makes the dough sticky so I added extra flour afterwards. Also, bring flour with you in case you need it later. Trust me, you will I learned this the hard way..lol!
Penguins- Black, yellow, orange and white construction paper and glue. The teacher should cover the cans or toliet paper rolls in black paper. Then have the students make a beak and feet using the yellow or orange paper. Note: The students can use the penguin cans as a pencil holder too!
Penguin Puppets-construction paper, popsicle sticks, glue, tape, straws and string. Cut out a oval shape out for the body. Then cut out beak and feet out of yellow or orange paper. Next glue on the beak and feet on the paper. You can make eyes and wings too! Finally, tape the popsicle stick to the back of the penguin!
Fishing Penguin- This is really easy addition! Make the penguin puppet as above but have the wings facing inward. Then, cut a clear straw in half and pull a string through the straw. Next, tie a big knot at one end so the string doesn't come out. That will be your fishing pole! Fold the paper in half and cut out two fishes. Place the string in the middle and then put the two sides with glue together! The kids really enjoyed this! Also, you can make hats and scarfs for your penguins!
Note: You can make seal puppets too!
Boomarks-easy and fun! The teacher should cut out bookmark shaped paper. The students can color the bookmark. Then, the teacher can laminate it!

Christmas art pictures!

Happy New Years! I am posting up the pictures of my Christmas art projects! The pictures are in backward order so start at the bottom. I'm starting new art projects with new techinques and materials! So stay posted! Enjoy the pictures! :)

This is one of my favorite houses! Many of the students tried to put as much frosting, chocolate chips and candy on the graham crackers as they could!

A few of the students' houses upclose!

The students made gingerbread houses on our last day before our winter break! The students houses were very creative!

My December bullentin board with examples of some of our art projects! From left to right: Christmas tree placemat, paper chain, hand wreath and advent calendar!c

Above: One of my student's snow pictures upclose!

Our December bulletin board! The students made snow pictures using paint and cotton balls!

Christmas Art part 3

Sorry I haven't updated more recently! I have been more busy at work so I have been negligent in updating my blog! Well we have reach our final week of school before the Christmas vacation begins! So I'm squeezing in lots of fun art and crafts projects as I can! I will be on holiday and won't see you til the new year! Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: Many of these art projects include glitter. Based from my experience, it's fun to use but the glittter will get everywhere. Don't be surprised if you are covered in glitter by the end of the day! :)

Stars- Craft sticks, acrylic gold or silver paint, glue and glitter. First, the adult needs to mix the paint and glue. Place craft sticks in star shape and glue sides that overlap. Easy way to make a star is two trinagles ( one facing up and one facing down) crossed over each other. Then paint the star and then add glitter! ( Also, if you make a square using the craft sticks you can make a picture frame!)
Note: You can make Star of David for Hanukkah!
Pine Cones-acrylic gold or silver paint, glue and glitter. First, the adult needs to mix the paint and glue again. Also, add name with a peice of tape at bottom of the pine cone. Next paint the pine cone and then add glitter! This is fun for all ages!
Angels- Paper, markers, glitter and glue. First trace the outline of the angel. Then decorate, color or paint and then add glitter! Next, cut out the angel and you add it to your Christmas tree. I use this site as an example: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Angelplate.shtml
Christmas frame ornaments-Okay, I didn not make this project but it 's really fun!! I bought penguin, reindeer and snowman photo frame ornaments from Joann Fabrics. The students loved painting them! It's pretty cheap and a cute gift
Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause- I drew Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause on paper. I drew the tops and bottom of their bodies seperate peices of paper. The students colored in Santa and Mrs. Clause using crayons and markers. Then they had to cut them out and glue them together!

Christmas Art part 2

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." More Christmas art and crafts projects!

Snow Christmas Trees and Snowman-Tempra paint and cottonballs. The students can paint Christmas trees! Then, use the cotton balls to make the snowmen and snow! Let it Snow!
Cornhusk Chirstmas wreath- Use pipe cleaners or a plastic circle as a base. Beforehand, the teacher needs to soak the cornhusks in warm water. Then fold one of the cornhusksin half and drap on the circle. Next, pull the end through the loop hole and make a knot. Continue in this manner until you have covered until the entire circle. Then, you can add a bow if you wish!
Hand Christmas Wreath- Green paper, scissors and staples. Have the students trace their hands ( as many times as possible) on the green paper anad then cut them out! Then staple them together in a circle and then add a bow! ( This project is good for Kinders and 1st graders!)
Reindeer-clothespins, brown tempra paint, red pom poms- Paint two clothes with the brown paint. Then turn one upside down and glue it to the bottom one! ( The top one will be the reindeer's head.) If you want you can add ribbon between the two clothespin and make it into an ornament. Then add a red pom pom for the nose and gogglie eyes! Also, you can add another clothespin to the back to give your reindeer four legs!
Note: Wooden clothespins are hard to find nowdays. The clothespins without the metal sides work best!

Christmas Art!

I am starting my Christmas blog since it is after all December 1st! However, I will be blogging a lot this month because we have only 3 weeks of school and lots of arts projects to cram into those weeks. Thus, I have decided some days we will be doing 2-3 projects a day! Also, this is my favorite time of year so I love spreading the Christmas cheer with everyone!

Advent Calenders-Super fun and easy! I found a website that had a pre made countdown to Christmas! I had the students color in the pictures and cut them out! Then we stapled them to a bright green paper. I had the kids add a gift tag (santa, penguins, polar bears and snowflakes) for Dec 25th! Then I cut out a green piece of paper and stapled the light green paper on top! Then, I provided stickers for the students to put to countdown the days!
Website: http://crafts.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Make_Advent_Calendar_Craft
Tree Placements-Cut out a green piece of paper like a tree! Then cut slits using a exacto knife ( this is for the adult to do.) Then cut red strips of paper about the same length. Then weave the red paper through the holes! Then, add Christmas decorations and characters!
Snowflakes and Christmas chain-Cut snowflakes out of paper! Cut out strips of red and green paper! Then glue the ends together to make a circle and connect them to make a chain. ( You can add the days in Dec and use it to countdown to Christmas!

Pictures!!

I will try to post pictures of our bulletin boards and projects from each month or theme! These pictures are from October and November! :)

The other bulletin board with the student's pictures of cornucopias! I made the November and countdown to Thanksgiving sign!

The Pilgrims, turkeys and leaves up close! I drew the Pilgrims and the students colored them in! Then, we connected the bodys with brads so they could move!

A few of the students' turkeys up close! The students wrote things they were thankful for on each of the feathers!

Our bulletin board during November! We made turkeys and pilgrims! Also, the students made the leaves that are around the border of the board!

Our bulletin board during Halloween! We painted pumpkins and made bats out of black paper!

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."-Pablo Picasso

Thanksgiving Art

Leaves-orange, yellow, red, brown tempra paint. These are great for hanging up and bulletin boarders
Turkeys-brown, orange, red, yellow, purple, green and blue construction paper.Trace a turkey stencil on brown paper. Cut out the turkey and hole punch the end. Use a brad to attach the different colored wings (5-6 wings) Have the students write things they are thankful for on each of the wings.
Pilgrims- The teacher needs to draw the Pilgrims' tops and bottoms on paper. We did both girl and boys pilgrims. Then cut out pilgrims and attach parts using a brad ( so the Pilgrims can move!)
3-D Turkeys- Cut out strips of brown paper ( about 10-12 strips.) Fold out the strips to make a circle ( similar to the 3-D pumpkins above!) Then cut out head out of brown paper and add beak. Next, staple the head to the boday. Cut out the feathers out of different colored paper and then staple the feathers onto the back of the turkey.
Corn Husk Dolls- Corn husks and twine. This is best for 2nd graders and above. However, you can do it with younger kids but the adult will need to help out alot. I will attach instructions for this project.
Turkey napkin rings- Cute and useful project! The students cut out turkey heads out of brown construction paper. Then, cut out feathers out of different colored construction paper. Then, cut out brown strips of paper and wrap around a toliet paper roll. ( Also, you can use the toliet paper roll as well.) Then, glue on head and attach feathrs with a brad.
Cornucopia art project-Trace and cut out cornucopias out of brown construction paper. Cut out and glue different fruit and veggies to your picture. You can add corn, apples, grapes, squash, pumpkins etc! ( Also, you can make a collage using real pictures of food from magazines!)
Turkey Hats
Candy Corn Turkeys

Next, I will be doing Winter and Christmas art all December long! I am so excited for the Holiday Season! Till then, happy art and crafting!

"Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."- Vincent Van Gogh

Hello. I am currently teaching art in an elementary school afterschool program. I teach students ranging from Kindergarteners to 5th graders. I am using this blog to write about my different arts and crafts projects I have been doing with the students. I usually do a theme or holiday art each week or month. I am trying to expose the students to different types of art concepts and materials. I am open to any ideas to other arts and crafts projects. I want to share my projects with other teachers! Enjoy!

First I will begin with Halloween Art Projects:
3-D Pumpkins- Lay 11 strips of orange paper in a straight pile. Then, hole punch each side and then put a brad in the hole. Next, trace your hand on green paper and cut it out. If you want you can curl the ends of paper. Then, put it in the top brad of your pumpkin. Next fold out the strips of paper to make your pumpkin.
Haunted houses- Chalk or Colored pencil on black paper. You can add doors and windows that open and close!
Bats- Cut out a circle and then cut a line down the raidus of the circle. Then, staple the two sides together. Cut out ears and wings out of the scraps of black paper
Orange and Black placements- Weaves the black paper through the orange paper. Add witches, cats, ghosts etc.
Halloween door hangers- We made black cats, ghosts, haunted houses etc.
Spiders-Egg cartons, black tempra paint and pipe cleaners. First, you need to cut the egg cartons and then paint them. Next, hole punch four holes on each side and then string through the pipe clearners
Witches- Green and black paper needed. Make a stencil of the head, body, arms and legs. Cut out all of the parts and then glue the head and body together. Then, attach the arms and legs with brads so they can move!
Painted pumpkins- Use orange and green tempra paint. ( You can also make cats, haunted houses etc.)
Black Cat Masks- Use tempra paint and paper plates

Miscellaneous Art projects
Leaves-Water colors and crayons. Draw with crayons and then paint over with the water colors
Self portraits- Using oil pastels make a self portrait
scraffito- Use oil pastels to cover the paper and then cover with black paint. Then, scratch the paper using the end of the paintbrush.